The Highest Points Scored Against the Boston Celtics In NBA History

While the franchise is the winningest in NBA history, the Boston Celtics have still had a handful of nights where an opposing star simply went nuclear. Even the league's most decorated defense has been helpless at times when a historic scorer enters the zone. These are the five highest-scoring individual performances ever recorded against the Celtics. 

1. Devin Booker—70 points

Booker’s 70-point eruption on March 24, 2017, is still the most points ever scored against Boston, and he did it in his second season in the league at 20 years old. He went 21-for-40 from the field and lived at the free-throw line, hitting 24 of 26. As one of just three Phoenix Suns players to hit double digits (the other two had 11 points each), Booker’s record-setting night wasn’t enough as the Suns lost 130–120.

2. Elgin Baylor—64 points 

Baylor’s 64-point effort on November 8, 1959, came in an era without a three-point line, as he shot 25-for-47, making the accomplishment even more remarkable. The Minneapolis Lakers' second-year forward overpowered Boston with a mix of strength, footwork, and mid-range touch that no defender could solve. The Lakers won 136–115, and Baylor’s stat line still stands as one of the greatest early NBA scoring showcases.

3. Michael Jordan—63 points 

Jordan’s legendary 63‑point explosion on April 20, 1986, remains the most points ever scored in a playoff game by anyone against any team. Facing a Celtics squad widely considered one of the greatest teams in NBA history, the 23‑year‑old Jordan carved up Boston with relentless drives, mid‑range mastery, and impossible shot-making, leading Larry Bird to famously say Jordan was “God disguised as Michael Jordan.” Despite his one-man-show heroics, the Bulls fell 135–131 in double overtime.

4. Wilt Chamberlain—62 points

Chamberlain’s 62‑point outing came during his historic 1961–62 season, the same year he averaged 50.4 per game. In one of his many legendary battles with the great Bill Russell, “The Big Dipper” dominated the paint and controlled the glass, adding 28 rebounds to his stat line. Despite Chamberlain’s memorable performance on January 14, 1962, the Philadelphia Warriors fell to the Boston Celtics 145–136.  

5. Lew Alcindor—55 points 

Before he became known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Alcindor torched the Celtics on December 10, 1971, for 55 points while leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 120–104 win. In addition to his unstoppable skyhook, Alcindor added a game-high 18 rebounds, as the Celtics had no counter for his length and touch. This performance was just one of many legendary games against the rival Celtics (which would continue as a member of the LA Lakers) and one that helped cement Alcindor as the league’s next great superstar.